HOW FAR FROM HOME
“Watchman what of the night? The watchman said, the morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will inquire, inquire, ye: Return! Come. Back”
Isaiah 21: 11,12
Annie R. Smith 1828 - 1855
1. How far from home? I asked, as on I bent my steps the watchman spake;
The long dark night is almost gone, The morning soon will break.
Then weep no more, but speed thy flight, With Hope’s bright star thy guiding ray,
Till thou shalt reach the realms of light, In everlasting day.
2. I asked the warrior on the field; This was his soul inspiring song:
With courage, bold, the sword I’ll wield, The battle is not long.
Then weep no more, but well endure The conflict, till thy work is done;
For this we know, the prize is sure, When victory is won.
3. I asked a-gain; earth, sea and sun Seemed with one voice, to make reply:
Time’s wasting sands are nearly run, Eternity is nigh.
Then weep no more with warning tones, Portentous signs are Thickening round,
The whole creation, waiting, groans, to hear the trumpet sound.
4. Not far from home! O blessed thought! The traveler’s lonely heart to cheer;
Which oft a heal-ing balm has brought, And dried the mourner’s tear.
Then weep no more, since we shall meet Where weary footsteps never roam
Our trials past, our joys complete, Safe in our Father’s home.
Annie trained to be a teacher, In 1851, she received a letter from her mother inviting her to attend a meeting to be conducted by Joseph Bates just two miles from where she lived. She decided to please her mother. She dreamed that she did go, arrived late, sat near the door, and heard a sermon on the 2300 days of Daniel 8:14. On the evening of the actual
meeting she started in good time but missed the way, and her dream was fulfilled in every detail.
The preacher, Bates, also had a dream. In it he saw a young woman arrive late and sat by the door. This dream, of course, was fulfilled exactly. Bates was a Sabbath-keeping Adventist. Thenceforth she devoted her poetic talent to writing for the church paper, the Review and Herald. This hymn is No. 439 in the Church Hymnal - John Thurber 2012